Arguably the most mentioned plot line of Manny's Ramirez's time in L.A. has been his ability to loosen up what felt like a Merchant Ivory version of a baseball clubhouse: Very buttoned down.  Very quiet.  Cast members performing while rarely cracking a smile.  Manny arrives and the joint starts jumping with pregame music, wall to wall looseness, Angel Berroa's various remote control vehicles, M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" blaring after every win (it played on a non-stop loop after the game 3 win), etc.  Plus, that whole "laughter" sound rumored to surface every now and then in your everyday, average clubhouse. 

But for the most part, Many's been subdued around us media types.  Camera in his grill, he's typically limited talk to standard baseball cliches and constant reminders that he's happy to be here.  And before today's practice, Ramirez seemed to be in that mode.  Save an admission that he "partied like a rock star" over the Dodgers' NLDS clinching weekend (his description of the night didn't even sound particularly crazy, truth be told) and cracking a joke about fans not figuring out where he lives to crash the shindig, nothing we haven't already heard in some way, shape or form was offered.  But then a reporter asked if Manny thought he could pull off a comeback like Rafael Furcal's after spending four months rehabbing a balky back.

"I don't think so.  Maybe I could come and contribute in another way.  Maybe like a defensive replacement.  Maybe something like that.  Furcal is 28 (Editor's note to Manny: Raffy is actually 31).  I'm 35 (Editor's note to Manny: You're actually 36).  He's a great player.  He can bunt.  He can hit.  He can do it all.  He's like me, a five tool player."

Tongue practically dead-bolted inside his cheek, an impish grin crossed Manny's face and he began to enjoy the roll. 

So will Joe Torre.  As most of you have likely noticed, when the Japanese import is on, dude typically gets into a serious, sometimes unhittable groove.  But he's often the Bizarro-version of that pitcher after the first bit of trouble, more often than not tossing himself further into trouble than figuring a way out of it.  In my mind, such a pattern makes Kuroda a candidate for a tight watch rather than total faith in an ability to work through the issues, particularly in a postseason contest.  I asked Torre about that notion, and he not only agreed, but noted that the "playoff" specification wasn't even necessary.

"In any game," replied Torre on giving Kuroda a tighter leash.  "We'll do the same.  He's had some rest.  He's had good results with extra rest.  But you're right, when a couple things go wrong, he has a tendency to probably overthink it and overthrow it sometimes. We'll certainly keep an eye on that.  A little bit like Billingsley, altough he solved his problem early the other day (in Chicago).  We'll keep an eye on the rhythm of it, because I think that's the important part for him.  Once he gets in that rhythm, he has a lot of pitches he can call on."

Hopefully, we won't reach that part, but it's nice to everyone's on the same page when it comes to wiggle room (or lack thereof). 

Had lunch today at Harey Carey's Tavern less than a block from the game. As you can see, people weren't feeling crushed enough that they couldn't go out for some eats or drinks.  Then again, I saw more people partaking in the latter than the former, and often sending those libations through lips tightly pursed, so maybe they were feeling the tension of last night's loss.  Given the 100 year history, would you blame anyone if they envisioned falling skies?  I mean, Dodger fans are bemoaning one-fifth of that time with merely one playoff win, but at least they have a World Series serving as the "then" bookend.  These people have a crappy "then" and, should their fears hold true, "now." 

As we'll be live-chatting soon enough in anticipation of the live blog.  And I'm even live in person at Wrigley Field.  Here at Blue Notes, we're all about the "live."

Joe Torre explain the last minute James McDonald-Ramon Troncoso switcheroo, one that placed the greener of the two rooks on the 25-man roster.  Looking slightly sheepish, Torre chalked it up as a case where he "jumped the gun" and named Troncoso before truly making up his mind.  "While you're going through this process, you're thinking of all the pluses and minuses of the situation," explained Torre, who assessed the Troncoso "pros" as an ability to induce a grounder and get warmed up, then sit down without it being problematic." But after telling McDonald he was out, Torre met with the kid five minutes later and told him that nothing was set in stone, so stay ready.  Turns out, Torre decided to honor his second guess, given the guessee's talents.  "What McDonald brought to the table was a variety of stuff.  Yeah, he's inexperienced, he's 23-years old.  But the fact that he can throw a fastball in the 90's.  He has a good breaking ball.  He has a good change up."  Plus, there's a temperament that outweighs his young age.  "We felt that he could handle it emotionally." 

And since I happened to be in the neighborhood, I decided to drop by Wrigley Field and see what, if any, haps were shaking as we enter the "T-Minus less than a day until Dodgers-Cubs kicks off."   The first order of the day was the 25-man roster, which may not have been quite set in stone- Joe Torre is reserving the right to make any last minute changes before the final cutoff point- but at least has taken the form of quickly drying cement. As BK noted earlier, there wasn't a ton in the way of true "surprises," but that doesn't mean that everyone included or left out met the announcement with a "que sera sera" attitude."  It's probably expected that a rookie like Cory Wade, who began the season with hopes peaking at perhaps some kind of high-level Minor League Player Award, would find it fairly surreal to be included on a big league playoff pitching staff.  "I think I probably would have laughed at them," shrugged Wade on his reaction had somebody told him in April that he'd be in Chicago for October baseball. 

But even some former All-Stars haven't taken their spot on the roster for granted.  Raffy Furcal isn't far removed from speculation as to whether he was even healthy enough to step on a postseason field, much less land in tomorrow's starting lineup.  Torre's decision was met with both happiness and a literal "thank you" from his shortstop, who would have completely understood if he ended up with a bench role, given the stakes involved.  "It's a big league game.  it's not like it's a rehab game."  Plus, as Furcal noted, "Everybody wear the same uniform.  If we lose, we lose together.  If we win, we win together."

One of my favorite lines from Airplane II (which is hardly one of my favorite sequels, but oh well).  When Manny Ramirez arrived in L.A., he was toting enough baggage on his back to resuscitate the entire airline industry with the fees involved.  Charges of dogging it, passion lost, alienating himself and generally being everything that embodies what a bad teammate is.  Two months later, he's not only put up the type of numbers that have sparked "Are 60 days in the NL enough to win MVP" talk, but he's being largely credited for injecting life that now feels Godsend-esque into a clubhouse.  Ironically, that energy comes courtesy of the same personality often referred to as more flaky than fun-loving, depending on who you ask.  Talk to any of his new teammates and they'll vote for the good version. "He's taught a lot of the young players that playing the game is serious, but you can have a lot of fun doing it.  Players have certainly gravitated toward him."

I like that quote, tossed out by Joe Torre in the dugout before today's game specifically about Chan Ho Park in reference to his poor outing in Saturday night's win over San Francisco.  Park, Torre said, was pressing, and couldn't locate.  "The harder he tried, the worse it got."  It's something that comes with the pennant race, he said, and isn't limited simply to one or two guys. As the prize- that would be the NL West title- seems more and more tangible, "the closer you get to the finish line, the tendency is to look at the finish line rather than what you're doing right now."  It's not a youth thing, but one of human nature.  No matter how much players try to tell themselves it's just another game, it's not.  "It's all about momentum, and having that good feel."  Certainly the Blue recaptured it last night when Manny hit his three run bomb in the third to put the Dodgers ahead 3-2, and continued to roll when Matt Kemp followed with a two run jack later in the frame.

Everything is magnified.  The good seems real good, the bad leads to disaster scenarios. 

No word if the traditional "chicken dinner" part of the equation will accompany Torre's victorious status, but regardless of tonight's Giants-Dodgers outcome, Torre is guaranteed to finish up this particular Saturday a winner.  He's part-owner of Horse Coastal Flare, which came in first today during the sixth race at Belmont.  "I didn't bet on it because I thought it was in the fifth race," joked Torre.  "I pretend I'm a real horse owner." 

Another dude who may feel like a winner of sorts would be Jeff Kent, newly activated this evening, but solely for use as a pinch-hitter. Realistically, that's all Torre can see him doing at the moment. Should Kent nab a knock, Torre was asked if he'd pinch-run for the vet.  Cue well delivered deadpan. 

"Yes.  I wouldn't, but I'd get someone to."

With the first pitch of Thursday's series finale in Pittsburgh scheduled for 9:35 local time (Kershaw vs. Maholm), the Dodgers won't have much time to dwell on last night's game.  Good thing, too, since there isn't much from that game they'd like to remember, since like most 15-8 losses, there were a lot of lowlights.  Start with Chad Billingsley, who was tagged for six earned in only 4.2 innings of work on a night the Blue were short a couple relievers, including two homers from Adam LaRoche (the big blow being his grand slam in the fifth).  Or Scott Elbert, who in relief of a very sharp Scott Proctor faced four batters with two out in the seventh... and didn't get any of them out. Jason Johnson and Ramon Troncoso didn't fare much better, and before it was over the Pirates had eight runs.  Did we mention there were two outs? 

Then there was the action in the top of the fifth, when, as Nomar Garciaparra was rounding third, coach Larry Bowa had him apply the brakes.  Garciaparra slipped and re-injured his troublesome left knee.  While it could keep Nomar out a day or two, when it was over Garciaparra seemed to think he'd be okay, and that it could have been much worse. 

The box shows a nice bounce back game from Matt Kemp, who had four hits, and Russell Martin, with three hits and three RBIs. Pablo Ozuna, getting a rare start, had three hits of his own, but also made a costly error in the fifth. 

Turning to this morning's game...

Just a few notes before the Live Blog:

• Randy Johnson has been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday afternoon for the D-Backs.  Max Scherzer gets the ball instead.  Kershaw vs. Scherzer.  Ought to be fun.
• Injury update: Rafael Furcal is running, taking grounders, and all that good stuff.  Joe Torre said it's possible that he could be activated in the next week or so, but cautioned that nobody should expect him to come back and play every day, given how much time he missed.  Activated and playing aren't the same thing.
• Torre expressed optimism that Brad Penny will be back, pitching out of the pen.  When, still hard to say.
• Jeff Kent will travel with the team next week to continue his rehab, but there's still no timetable for a return.
• Casey Blake, hit by a pitch in last night's game, was questionable for today's tilt before warm ups, but managed to get through it okay.  He'll bat fifth.

BK